Pastor Tim Brown, Calvary Chapel Fremont, Sunday July 4, 2010

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How to Live in the End Times

2 Peter 3:10-18

Part of the end times picture looks like this: You’re in your car and 10 out of control 18 wheelers are barreling toward you.  It looks certain that you will be road kill.  How can you help but die an agonizing death in a fiery inferno?  Peter: don’t worry about it.  Many Christians fear the end times.  Peter: the dotl is coming/ here’s what it will look like when it hits – it's going to get messy/ heat up/this is how to act in light of its certain impact.

The world has been to the Dr.  Diagnosis: terminal cancer.  Prognosis: certain death – one day/one year… We are not of/but in the world.  How do we lives in light of earth’s impending judgment?  At Manresa Beach yesterday – 7.3.10 – Warning: don’t go in water/never seen more surfers there/ignored warning/decided to ride it out.  

10  Begins w/ a contrast – two things to note (cf. vv8-9):

1)  God perceives time differently than we do – time is perceived differently by a 50 year old man and an 18 year old.

2)  God’s love controls His timing – His affection measures His timing.  So w/ you - “We're leaving now...”  Kids: “Ten more minutes, please!”  You: “OK, it's been ten minutes.”  Kids: “Ten more minutes, please!” What some see as inconsistencies in the Bible is the revelation of a Father's heart.

But… don’t be caught unawares (the Lord is patient/loving) but the dotl will come…  The dotl is a day of judgment/destruction – it is barreling toward us.  The Bible is generously salted w/ the  dotl.

Wail, for the day of the LORD is near!   It will come as destruction from the Almighty.  Is. 13:6  (upon Babylon)

Wail, ‘Alas for the day!’  For the day is near, even the day of the LORD is near; it will be a day of clouds, a time of doom for the nations.  Ezekiel 30:2-3

Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision!  For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.  Joel 3:14

Peter the apostle raises his voice w/ those of the prophets and he bears witness to the same thing – the dotl is coming.   

The dotl will come quietly… like a thief

The dotl, when it comes - is not going to announce itself until it’s here.  “Why didn’t God warn Me?”  We give our kids/grand-kids warnings - “We're leaving in 20/10 minutes.”  The Lord has warned us it is coming, but we don't know exactly when.  Parents to older children - “We're going now.”  Kids: “When will you be back?”  Parents: “Like a thief!  Sometime...”   

The dotl will come w/ a crash… with a roar  Rev. 20:7 – 21:1

This describes the final doom of Satan/enemies of God.  Following - all is cleansed via burning.  The universe is cleansed via the fire of God - stench of Satan/unbelief/rebellion removed from universe.  

The heavens will pass away/elements destroyed w/ an intense heat

Stars/planets/galaxies – anything considered a part of the heavens.   

The earth and its works will be burned up

The universe will end not at the hands of man, nor thru the rhythms of an oscillating universe, but at the hands of a personal God.  The Big Bang meets the Big Burn.  The flood purified the earth in Noah's day and a fire will purify the universe at the end of days.  The flood dealt w/ the earth.  The fire will deal w/ the universe.   

11  Peter tells us how to live in the end times.

What sort of people ought u2b  = from what country/race/tribe?  Two kinds of people – redeemed/unredeemed.  A new heaven/earth are coming, but UR2BA new person now.  UR2B1 who has been convicted/ faith/repentance.  The purifying fire has already touched you and Christ has preserved you.  You no longer are of this world – the coming dotl won’t touch you.   

Live in holiness  11, 14

    * Holy conduct and godliness

Not just holy feelings/yearnings – but conduct.

Holy yearning – to forgive.  Holy conduct – forgive

Holy yearning – reconciliation.  Holy conduct – repent/humble self

Water – vapor/liquid.  Your yearnings are vapors – real, but not seen.  Your conduct is what impacts those around you.  This world needs a holy church, not just in yearnings, but in conduct.  You should not just have vapors of holiness, but the substance of holiness.   

    * Spotless/blameless

This was required of animal sacrifices/those offering them.   

Why holiness/godliness/peace/spotless/blameless?  Cf. Vv9 & 15 -   God’s patience is for salvation.  We are to have a heart for the things God has a heart for.  We are to value the salvation of people.  The gospel is the proclamation of what God has done in Jesus Christ.  The proclamation of the gospel is to come from holy lives.  If your holiness is a vapor, and not something real/tangible, the gospel suffers.  300 lb. man w/ diet plan who has only lost ten lbs. in ten years.  UR not impressed.  W/o holiness, the church is about as effective as that 300 lb. man marketing his diet plan.

Live in hope  12-13

Relationship of this event to the rapture of the church – 1 Th. 5:1-10

If the rapture of the church is the next thing on the prophetic calendar, and we should be looking for this, why are we exhorted to look for an event that is at least 1,007 years in the future?  Someone not married yet may say, “I'm looking forward to having children one day.”  There's a few events that need to happen in between.  You can look forward to something even though you know it's a long way off and certain things need to happen in-between.  We can also look forward to it because we’ll be there and we’ll know that is the time that the universe will be purified/scrubbed clean from Satan's presence.   

You should look forward to that day and hurry it along… NLT

You should look forward to the day when God judges everyone, and you should try to make it come soon.  CEV

We can hasten the Lord’s coming through evangelism. Paul writes of when the fullness of the Gentiles has come in (Romans 11:25).

We can hasten the Lord’s coming through prayer. Even as Daniel asked for a speedy fulfillment of prophecy regarding captive Israel (Daniel 9), we can also pray “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20)  Thy kingdom come…

Live in confidence  15-17

The delay of the dotl is not a problem 2b solved, but an opportunity 2b taken advantage of.  The delay of the new heavens/earth is an opportunity to spread the gospel.

The apostle Paul agrees w/ the apostle Peter.  Romans 2:4

This confidence will guard your heart from those who would attack your faith.  

Live in grace  18  cf. 2P1:2

Perception is not the same as knowledge.  To see something is not the same as knowing/understanding it.  Jacob wrestled w/ an angel.  No doubt, his 1st perception was that here is an enemy I need to overcome.  Upon reflection, perception changed n2 understanding and he saw the grace in this event - He saw that God was even in this.  Grace is multiplied in the knowledge of God.  The better you know God, the more grace you see.   

As we see nations clash/earthquakes/the alienation of Israel among the nations/increasing godlessness... these perceptions can alarm us.  But knowing that Jesus said these would happen b4 His return can turn our perceptions n2 knowledge and in that knowledge we can experience the grace of God.

“Let not your heart be troubled...”  The day of the Lord is coming, but the Lord of that day has saved you!